IAU descriptor term
Paterae in the Solar System
Patera is the term planetary geologists use for an irregular or scalloped-edged crater, usually volcanic. 280 named features carry it, across 5 of the 14 mapped worlds, the largest being Phison Patera on Mars at 506 km.
Where they are
The largest paterae anywhere
Ranked across every mapped world, by catalogued diameter.
1Phison PateraMars506 km2Orcus PateraMars388 km3Tvashtar PateraeIo305 km4Malea PateraMars242 km5Sacajawea PateraVenus233 km6Loki PateraIo227 km7Sappho PateraVenus225 km8Mazda PateraeIo223 km9Boadicea PateraeVenus220 km10Pityusa PateraMars197 km11Huo Shen PateraIo183 km12Stopes PateraVenus169 km13Creidne PateraIo169 km14Zal PateraIo168 km15Horus PateraIo165 km16Hroswitha PateraVenus163 km17Razia PateraVenus157 km18Mafuike PateraIo154 km19Colette PateraVenus149 km20Reshet PateraIo146 km21Itzamna PateraIo143 km22Hi iaka PateraIo142 km23Nordenflycht PateraVenus140 km24Hiei Chu PateraVenus139 km25Monan PateraIo138 km26Kottauer PateraVenus136 km27Kane PateraIo132 km28Amphitrites PateraMars130 km29Peneus PateraMars129 km30Nusku PateraIo128 km
What they are named after
Naming themes are set per world, so one descriptor can draw on very different sources depending on where it sits. Across all 280 paterae, 97 categories appear.
Greek26American13Russia12Japan10Egypt8Latin8Celtic8India7